A Brief Note on Pottery

We have seen some beautiful pottery on our trip.  And, I am learning, that some can be distinguished by the place in which it is produced (particularly the effect of local clay).  The amazing thing to me in seeing it is how expensive much of it is.  Now of course there is machine-made, everyday pottery, probably like what we would see in China Fair back home.  But the stuff we are seeing - which people presumably buy to use - can cost $50 for a small sake bottle or $30 for a small dish.  And the number of dishes used at each meal can add up.  Admittedly we have been eating in upscale settings, but it is not uncommon at the end of dinner to have used 20 or more separate dishes, many such as soup bowls or fish bowls with covers.  So the cost to maintain (and store) all of these dishes must be enormous - not to mention cleaning up after the meal!